[Note: The following are rhetorical questions raised from their reading of the Old Testament]. For who has known [what goes on in] the Lord's mind? Or, who has been His advisor?

"Who has first given God anything, so as to receive payment in return?"

For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.

I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

We have different gifts based on the grace that was given to us. So if your gift is prophecy, use your gift in proportion to your faith.

or if the deacon's office, be active in the service; or he that teacheth, in teaching;

He who has the power of comforting, let him do so; he who gives, let him give freely; he who has the power of ruling, let him do it with a serious mind; he who has mercy on others, let it be with joy.

Be kind to one another with a brother's love, putting others before yourselves in honour;

Do not be indolent when zeal is required. Be thoroughly warm-hearted, the Lord's own servants,

contributing to the needs of God’s people, pursuing [the practice of] hospitality.

Ask God's blessing on people who persecute you, instead of cursing them.

Have the same [good] thoughts toward one another. Do not [always] be thinking you are a "bigshot," but lower yourself to accept humble tasks [or, humble people]. Do not think you are so smart.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.

If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace;

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

[So], do not be conquered by evil, but [instead] conquer evil by doing good.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God.

So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who thus resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.

For rulers are not a [cause of] terror for a good deed, but for bad [conduct]. So do you want not to be afraid of authority? Do what [is] good, and you will have praise from it,

for it is God's minister to thee for good. But if thou practisest evil, fear; for it bears not the sword in vain; for it is God's minister, an avenger for wrath to him that does evil.

Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God].

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

[So], pay everyone what you owe them; pay taxes to the tax collector; pay revenue to the revenue collector; show respect to the one deserving it; give honor to the one deserving it.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].

And this, Do not be untrue in married life, Do not put to death, Do not take what is another's, Do not have desire for what is another's, and if there is any other order, it is covered by this word, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor [it never hurts anyone]. Therefore [unselfish] love is the fulfillment of the Law.

See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith.

The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Let's behave decently, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, quarreling, or jealousy!

One man’s faith permits him to eat everything, while the weak believer eats only vegetables [to avoid eating ritually unclean meat or something previously considered unclean].

Let not him who takes food have a low opinion of him who does not: and let not him who does not take food be a judge of him who does; for he has God's approval.

Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

This man putteth difference between day and day: another man counteth all days alike. See that no man waver in his own meaning.

He who regards the day as sacred, so regards it for the Master's sake; and he who eats certain food eats it for the Master's sake, for he gives thanks to God; and he who refrains from eating it refrains for the Master's sake, and he also gives thanks to God.

For every man's life and every man's death has a relation to others as well as to himself.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

For this was the purpose of Christ's dying and coming to life--namely that He might be Lord both of the dead and the living.

But you, why do you make yourself your brother's judge? or again, why have you no respect for your brother? because we will all have to take our place before God as our judge.

For it is written [Isa. 45:23], "As surely as I am the living God, says the Lord, everyone's knee will bow before me, and everyone's mouth will confess to [or, praise] God."

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Through my union with the Lord Jesus, I know and am persuaded that nothing is 'defiling in itself.' A thing is 'defiling' only to him who holds it to be so.

If, for the sake of what you eat, you wound your Brother's feelings, your life has ceased to be ruled by love. Do not, by what you eat, ruin a man for whom Christ died!

Let it not be possible for men to say evil about your good:

For God's kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit.

And he who in these things is Christ's servant, is pleasing to God and has the approval of men.

So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.

Overthrow not for meat's sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.

The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall.

The faith which you have [that gives you freedom of choice], have as your own conviction before God [just keep it between yourself and God, seeking His will]. Happy is he who has no reason to condemn himself for what he approves.

But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not [do so] from faith, and everything that [is] not from faith is sin.

Let each of us please his neighbor for his neighbor's good, to help in the building up of his character.

For even Christ did not please [just] Himself, but as it is written [Psa. 69:9], "The insults of those people who insulted you [i.e., God] fell on me [i.e., Christ]."

For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.

so that with one mind you may glorify with one mouth the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then, take one another to your hearts, as Christ took us, to the glory of God.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His mercy. As it is written:

Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles,
and I will sing psalms to Your name.

And again it says--'Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with God's People.'

And again [Psa. 117:1], "Praise the Lord, all of you Gentiles, and let all the nations praise Him."

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that ye should abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Still, on some points I have written to you very boldly and without reservation to remind you [about them] again, because of the grace that was given to me from God,

to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of God’s good news. My purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

So I have pride in Christ Jesus in the things which are God's.

For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.

This [goal—my commitment to this principle] is the reason why I have often been prevented from coming to you [in Rome].

But now there is no more work for me in this part of the world, and as I have had a great desire for many years to come to see you,

Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

but now, I'say , I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.

for Macedonia and Greece have kindly contributed a certain sum in relief of the poor among God's people, in Jerusalem.

For they were pleased [to do so], and they are obligated to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual [things], they ought also to serve them in material [things].

So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain.

and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ's blessing.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

[and pray] that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints (Jewish believers) there;

in order that I may come to you in joy by God's will, and that I may be refreshed with you.

May the God of peace be with you all! Amen.

It is my desire to say a good word for Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae:

that you may receive her in the Lord [with love and hospitality], as God’s people ought to receive one another. And that you may help her in whatever matter she may require assistance from you, for she has been a helper of many, including myself.

who risked their own necks for my life. Not only do I thank them, but so do all the Gentile churches.

And say a kind word to the church which is in their house. Give my love to my dear Epaenetus, who is the first fruit of Asia to Christ.

Greet Mary, who has worked so hard for you.

Remember me to Urbanus, our fellow-worker in Christ's cause, and to my dear Stachys.

Give my love to Apelles, who has the approval of Christ. Say a kind word to those who are of the house of Aristobulus.

Give my love to Herodion, my relation. Say a kind word to those of the house of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.

Greetings to Rufus, who is one of the Lord's chosen people; and to his mother, who has also been a mother to me.

to Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister and Olympas, and to all God's people associated with them.

For the report of your obedience has reached everyone, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you greetings, and so do my countrymen Lucius, Jason and Sosipater.

Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church here, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

[The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]

But is now made clear; and by the writings of the prophets, by the order of the eternal God, the knowledge of it has been given to all the nations, so that they may come under the rule of the faith;